Night Flying

Hey Folks....

I go outside after dark a lot, usually to enjoy the outside air. Last night
I realized that I don't generally see a lot of GA at night in my area. I am
curious as to the feeling of this group on flying at night. I am talking
about VFR.

For discussion purposes, I know that when I take a trip in my car, I enjoy
driving at night. It is cooler, there is less traffic, the car seems to
perform better...etc. I would say that many of those same things would
apply to flying at night. Now, I realize the safety issues, and that isn't
the point of my question (for all of you that are going to say DON"T FLY AT
NIGHT). But, for performance issues, and other things, I wonder how many
pilots have considered flying a cross county at night vs. during the day.

Fred

When its dark, you can't see anything. One of the things that attracts
people to flying is being able to see things from high above.

Also, during my first night cross country back when I was getting my
private, I remember my instructor telling me "If we lose an engine,
we're pretty much screwed"

Right.....

I realize why a lot of VFR pilots don't fly at night. But, considering the
route....obviously it would be safer to fly some routes than others.

I mentioned that to a Horizon pilot once....the "not being able to see
anything" deal. He brought up the argument that over urban areas, you
actually can see quite a bit. You can see the cities, the freeways, runways
from distances, things like that. Now, that is in a populated area, for
instance out here in the Pacific Northwest. But say in Montana, once you
leave the vicinity of your airport, you are in the dark for sure, and
runways are few and far between.

But what about flying areas that are a bit more congested where you don't
have mountains to run into, and lots of airports around. I can't say that I
wouldn't consider it when planning a cross country........but it would
certainly depend on the route, terrain, and things like that. From the
Seattle area here, one could fly the I-5 corridor to Portland, and have an
out (the freeway) in case of an engine failure, but also many lighted strips
along the way, as well as many cities for landmarks......

Fred

"buttman" wrote in message
ups.com...
When its dark, you can't see anything. One of the things that attracts
people to flying is being able to see things from high above.

Also, during my first night cross country back when I was getting my
private, I remember my instructor telling me "If we lose an engine,
we're pretty much screwed"

I enjoy flying at night, if it's over terrain I'm familiar with, and if the
weather is clear. Over congested airspace, like California's central
valley, you can see other aircraft many miles away, and it's reassuring to
see airport beacons spotted across the landscape in all directions. Night
over mountains isn't fun unless you have plenty of altitude and can see the
airport beacon in the next valley -- within gliding range. In clear weather
it's easy to follow major highways from town to town.

Night over water is even more intimidating.

Spatial disorientation is a potential problem, and so are optical illusions.
On a long night solo, battling fatigue, I once mistook Sirius for an
oncoming landing light and took evasive action.

If you're going to make a habit of this, it's a good idea to get the
instrument rating.

Seth
Comanche N8100R

I fly SEL at night (in IMC as well) because sometimes my schedule
demands it. It's also often really beautiful at night: moonlit
landscapes or cloud tops are wonderful, and it's rarely so dark there's
no view. FWIW, however, it's the unusual case for me to fly at night
under VFR. I almost always file an IFR flight plan (but do that in the
daytime, too: it's much easier getting into busy airports that way).

Then there's this: those with an instrument rating will understand.
Sometimes the ceiling is flat and just above minimums with good
visibility below. There's nothing quite as exciting to be in the clouds
at night, break out at 200 feet and have the runway and lead in lights
right there, right where they should be. A half mile at an average
speed of say 80 means you go from solid instruments to in the flare in
20 seconds. The best word I can think of for that experience is "neat!"

That sounds pretty cool.....I will be going for instrument rating later this
year, or early next year. I am looking forward to it.
As for breaking out and seeing the runway lights.....does that ever give you
a sight problem? Going from instruments to those bright lights all of a
sudden?

Fred

"Tony" wrote in message
ups.com...
I fly SEL at night (in IMC as well) because sometimes my schedule
demands it. It's also often really beautiful at night: moonlit
landscapes or cloud tops are wonderful, and it's rarely so dark there's
no view. FWIW, however, it's the unusual case for me to fly at night
under VFR. I almost always file an IFR flight plan (but do that in the
daytime, too: it's much easier getting into busy airports that way).

Then there's this: those with an instrument rating will understand.
Sometimes the ceiling is flat and just above minimums with good
visibility below. There's nothing quite as exciting to be in the clouds
at night, break out at 200 feet and have the runway and lead in lights
right there, right where they should be. A half mile at an average
speed of say 80 means you go from solid instruments to in the flare in
20 seconds. The best word I can think of for that experience is "neat!"

I've got about 100 or so night VFR hours.. most of them are XC.. 450 TT.

Dave

Fred Choate wrote:

Hey Folks....

I go outside after dark a lot, usually to enjoy the outside air. Last night
I realized that I don't generally see a lot of GA at night in my area. I am
curious as to the feeling of this group on flying at night. I am talking
about VFR.

For discussion purposes, I know that when I take a trip in my car, I enjoy
driving at night. It is cooler, there is less traffic, the car seems to
perform better...etc. I would say that many of those same things would
apply to flying at night. Now, I realize the safety issues, and that isn't
the point of my question (for all of you that are going to say DON"T FLY AT
NIGHT). But, for performance issues, and other things, I wonder how many
pilots have considered flying a cross county at night vs. during the day.

Fred

Do you purposely plan your flights for night? If so, why?

Fred


"Dave S" wrote in message
ink.net...
I've got about 100 or so night VFR hours.. most of them are XC.. 450 TT.

Dave

Fred Choate wrote:

Hey Folks....

I go outside after dark a lot, usually to enjoy the outside air. Last
night I realized that I don't generally see a lot of GA at night in my
area. I am curious as to the feeling of this group on flying at night.
I am talking about VFR.

For discussion purposes, I know that when I take a trip in my car, I
enjoy driving at night. It is cooler, there is less traffic, the car
seems to perform better...etc. I would say that many of those same
things would apply to flying at night. Now, I realize the safety issues,
and that isn't the point of my question (for all of you that are going to
say DON"T FLY AT NIGHT). But, for performance issues, and other things,
I wonder how many pilots have considered flying a cross county at night
vs. during the day.

Fred

I guess my previous post was silly....of course you purposely plan them for
night, but what I am getting at, is do you compare the route to a daytime
flight and do you decide to fly at night for any particular reason...


Fred

For those of us in the southwest USA, evening/night flying is
often the best flying. (Assuming the Tstorms are gone). Temps are
not 90s,100s,110s, air is calm, less traffic, easier to see what
traffic is around, ATC is less busy and more agreeable to
"sightseeing" routes, etc.

I'm not IFR rated so when I'm away from the city on a long
flight, I stay in visual contact with major highways as a safety
item.